diff --git a/docs/lua/examples/hud.lua b/docs/lua/examples/hud.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..78ee2c208
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/lua/examples/hud.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+-- This file is an example of how to render to the screen
+
+rainbow = 0
+
+function test_text()
+    -- set text and scale
+    local text = "This is example text in the bottom right."
+    local scale = 1
+
+    -- render to native screen space, with the MENU font
+    djui_hud_set_resolution(RESOLUTION_DJUI);
+    djui_hud_set_font(FONT_MENU);
+
+    -- get width of screen and text
+    local screenWidth = djui_hud_get_screen_width()
+    local width = djui_hud_measure_text(text) * scale
+
+    -- get height of screen and text
+    local screenHeight = djui_hud_get_screen_height()
+    local height = 64 * scale
+
+    -- set location
+    local x = screenWidth - width
+    local y = screenHeight - height
+
+    -- set color and render
+    djui_hud_set_color(255, 0, 255, 255);
+    djui_hud_print_text(text, x, y, scale);
+end
+
+function test_texture()
+    -- render to N64's screen space
+    djui_hud_set_resolution(RESOLUTION_N64)
+
+    -- get player's character texture
+    local tex = gMarioStates[0].character.hudHeadTexture
+
+    -- set scale
+    local wscale = 1
+    local hscale = 1
+
+    -- set position
+    local x = 256
+    local y = 64
+
+    -- set color and render
+    djui_hud_set_color(255, 0, 255, 255)
+    djui_hud_render_texture(tex, x, y, wscale, hscale)
+end
+
+function test_rect()
+    -- render to native screen space
+    djui_hud_set_resolution(RESOLUTION_DJUI)
+
+    -- set location
+    local x = 512
+    local y = 512
+
+    -- set width/height
+    local w = 256
+    local h = 256
+
+    -- set color and render first rectangle
+    djui_hud_set_color(255, 0, 0, 128)
+    djui_hud_render_rect(x, y, w, h)
+
+    -- adjust location and size
+    x = x + 16
+    y = y + 16
+    w = w - 32
+    h = h - 32
+
+    -- set color and render second rectangle
+    djui_hud_set_color(0, 255, 0, 128)
+    djui_hud_render_rect(x, y, w, h)
+
+    -- adjust location and size
+    x = x + 16
+    y = y + 16
+    w = w - 32
+    h = h - 32
+
+    -- set color and render third rectangle
+    djui_hud_set_color(0, 0, 255, 128)
+    djui_hud_render_rect(x, y, w, h)
+end
+
+function test_rainbow_text()
+    -- this function is incredibly silly
+    -- don't do anything like this
+    local res = RESOLUTION_DJUI
+    local text = "HELLO WORLD"
+    local scale = 3
+
+    djui_hud_set_resolution(res);
+    djui_hud_set_font(FONT_NORMAL);
+
+    for i=0,255 do
+        j = rainbow / 50
+        local r = math.sin(0.00 + i / 15 + j) * 127 + 127
+        local g = math.sin(0.33 + i / 33 + j) * 127 + 127
+        local b = math.sin(0.66 + i / 77 + j) * 127 + 127
+        local x = 64 + i
+        local y = 64 + i + math.sin(i / 40 + j) * 64
+        if i == 255 then
+            r = 0
+            g = 0
+            b = 0
+        end
+        djui_hud_set_color(r, g, b, i);
+        djui_hud_print_text(text, x, y, scale);
+    end
+    rainbow = rainbow + 1
+end
+
+function on_hud_render()
+    test_text()
+    test_rect()
+    test_texture()
+    test_rainbow_text()
+end
+
+function on_mario_update(m)
+    if m.action == ACT_JUMP then
+        displaying = true
+    end
+end
+
+hook_event(HOOK_ON_HUD_RENDER, on_hud_render)
diff --git a/docs/lua/functions.md b/docs/lua/functions.md
index c35d59a57..0a61ff05c 100644
--- a/docs/lua/functions.md
+++ b/docs/lua/functions.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
    - [djui_hud_get_screen_width](#djui_hud_get_screen_width)
    - [djui_hud_measure_text](#djui_hud_measure_text)
    - [djui_hud_print_text](#djui_hud_print_text)
+   - [djui_hud_render_rect](#djui_hud_render_rect)
    - [djui_hud_render_texture](#djui_hud_render_texture)
    - [djui_hud_set_color](#djui_hud_set_color)
    - [djui_hud_set_font](#djui_hud_set_font)
@@ -708,6 +709,29 @@
 
 <br />
 
+## [djui_hud_render_rect](#djui_hud_render_rect)
+
+### Lua Example
+`djui_hud_render_rect(x, y, width, height)`
+
+### Parameters
+| Field | Type |
+| ----- | ---- |
+| x | number |
+| y | number |
+| width | number |
+| height | number |
+
+### Returns
+- None
+
+### C Prototype
+`void djui_hud_render_rect(f32 x, f32 y, f32 width, f32 height);`
+
+[:arrow_up_small:](#)
+
+<br />
+
 ## [djui_hud_render_texture](#djui_hud_render_texture)
 
 ### Lua Example
diff --git a/docs/lua/lua.md b/docs/lua/lua.md
index 4ce285046..50af05e76 100644
--- a/docs/lua/lua.md
+++ b/docs/lua/lua.md
@@ -32,3 +32,4 @@ Lua scripts you make can be placed either the `mods` folder in the base director
 - [Low Gravity](../../mods/low-gravity.lua)
 - [Faster Swimming](../../mods/faster-swimming.lua)
 - [Hide and Seek](../../mods/hide-and-seek.lua)
+- [HUD Rendering](examples/hud.lua)
diff --git a/src/pc/djui/djui_font.c b/src/pc/djui/djui_font.c
index b0bbb68cc..67c1e42bf 100644
--- a/src/pc/djui/djui_font.c
+++ b/src/pc/djui/djui_font.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ static const Gfx djui_font_normal_text_begin[] = {
     gsDPPipeSync(),
     gsSPClearGeometryMode(G_LIGHTING),
     gsDPSetCombineMode(G_CC_FADEA, G_CC_FADEA),
-    gsDPSetEnvColor(255, 255, 255, 255),
+    //gsDPSetEnvColor(255, 255, 255, 255),
     gsDPSetRenderMode(G_RM_XLU_SURF, G_RM_XLU_SURF2),
     gsDPSetTextureFilter(G_TF_POINT),
     gsSPTexture(0xFFFF, 0xFFFF, 0, G_TX_RENDERTILE, G_ON),
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ static void djui_font_normal_render_char(char c) {
     extern const u8* const font_normal_chars[];
     // replace undisplayable characters
     if (c < ' ' || (u8)c > ('~' + 1)) { c = '?'; }
+    if (c == ' ') { return; }
     void* fontChar = (void*)font_normal_chars[c - '!'];
     if (fontChar == NULL) { fontChar = (void*)font_normal_chars[94]; }
 
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ static void djui_font_title_render_char(char c) {
     extern const u8* const font_title_chars[];
     // replace undisplayable characters
     if (c < ' ' || (u8)c > ('~' + 1)) { c = '?'; }
+    if (c == ' ') { return; }
     djui_gfx_render_texture(font_title_chars[c - '!'], 64, 64, 32);
 }
 
@@ -96,24 +98,6 @@ static const struct DjuiFont sDjuiFontTitle = {
  // font 3 (hud font) //
 ///////////////////////
 
-/*
-    texture_hud_char_0, texture_hud_char_1, texture_hud_char_2, texture_hud_char_3,
-    texture_hud_char_4, texture_hud_char_5, texture_hud_char_6, texture_hud_char_7,
-    texture_hud_char_8, texture_hud_char_9, texture_hud_char_A, texture_hud_char_B,
-    texture_hud_char_C, texture_hud_char_D, texture_hud_char_E, texture_hud_char_F,
-    texture_hud_char_G, texture_hud_char_H, texture_hud_char_I, texture_hud_char_J,
-    texture_hud_char_K, texture_hud_char_L, texture_hud_char_M, texture_hud_char_N,
-    texture_hud_char_O, texture_hud_char_P,               0x0, texture_hud_char_R,
-    texture_hud_char_S, texture_hud_char_T, texture_hud_char_U,               0x0,
-    texture_hud_char_W,               0x0, texture_hud_char_Y, texture_hud_char_waluigi_head,
-                  0x0,               0x0,               0x0,               0x0,
-                  0x0,               0x0,               0x0,               0x0,
-                  0x0,               0x0,               0x0,               0x0,
-                  0x0,               0x0, texture_hud_char_multiply, texture_hud_char_coin,
-    texture_hud_char_mario_head, texture_hud_char_star, texture_hud_char_luigi_head, texture_hud_char_toad_head,
-    texture_hud_char_apostrophe, texture_hud_char_double_quote,
-*/
-
 static u8 djui_font_hud_index(char c) {
     if (c == 'q' || c == 'Q') { return 50; }
     if (c == 'v' || c == 'V') { return 50; }
@@ -138,6 +122,7 @@ static u8 djui_font_hud_index(char c) {
 }
 
 static void djui_font_hud_render_char(char c) {
+    if (c == ' ') { return; }
     u8 index = djui_font_hud_index(c);
     djui_gfx_render_texture(main_hud_lut[index], 16, 16, 16);
 }
diff --git a/src/pc/djui/djui_hud_utils.c b/src/pc/djui/djui_hud_utils.c
index 82127a22a..0bd59ba65 100644
--- a/src/pc/djui/djui_hud_utils.c
+++ b/src/pc/djui/djui_hud_utils.c
@@ -160,3 +160,23 @@ void djui_hud_render_texture(struct TextureInfo* texInfo, f32 x, f32 y, f32 scal
     djui_hud_render_texture_raw(texInfo->texture, texInfo->bitSize, texInfo->width, texInfo->width, x, y, scaleW, scaleH);
 }
 
+void djui_hud_render_rect(f32 x, f32 y, f32 width, f32 height) {
+    // translate position
+    f32 translatedX = x;
+    f32 translatedY = y;
+    djui_hud_position_translate(&translatedX, &translatedY);
+    create_dl_translation_matrix(DJUI_MTX_PUSH, translatedX, translatedY, 0);
+
+    // translate scale
+    f32 translatedW = width;
+    f32 translatedH = height;
+    djui_hud_size_translate(&translatedW);
+    djui_hud_size_translate(&translatedH);
+    create_dl_scale_matrix(DJUI_MTX_NOPUSH, translatedW, translatedH, 1.0f);
+
+    // render
+    gSPDisplayList(gDisplayListHead++, dl_djui_simple_rect);
+
+    // pop
+    gSPPopMatrix(gDisplayListHead++, G_MTX_MODELVIEW);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pc/djui/djui_hud_utils.h b/src/pc/djui/djui_hud_utils.h
index 5a8f3f904..1d62ea2be 100644
--- a/src/pc/djui/djui_hud_utils.h
+++ b/src/pc/djui/djui_hud_utils.h
@@ -36,5 +36,6 @@ u32 djui_hud_get_screen_height(void);
 f32 djui_hud_measure_text(const char* message);
 void djui_hud_print_text(const char* message, float x, float y, float scale);
 void djui_hud_render_texture(struct TextureInfo* texInfo, f32 x, f32 y, f32 scaleW, f32 scaleH);
+void djui_hud_render_rect(f32 x, f32 y, f32 width, f32 height);
 
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pc/lua/smlua_functions_autogen.c b/src/pc/lua/smlua_functions_autogen.c
index d0bc4e034..e89282aaf 100644
--- a/src/pc/lua/smlua_functions_autogen.c
+++ b/src/pc/lua/smlua_functions_autogen.c
@@ -252,6 +252,23 @@ int smlua_func_djui_hud_print_text(lua_State* L) {
     return 1;
 }
 
+int smlua_func_djui_hud_render_rect(lua_State* L) {
+    if(!smlua_functions_valid_param_count(L, 4)) { return 0; }
+
+    f32 x = smlua_to_number(L, 1);
+    if (!gSmLuaConvertSuccess) { return 0; }
+    f32 y = smlua_to_number(L, 2);
+    if (!gSmLuaConvertSuccess) { return 0; }
+    f32 width = smlua_to_number(L, 3);
+    if (!gSmLuaConvertSuccess) { return 0; }
+    f32 height = smlua_to_number(L, 4);
+    if (!gSmLuaConvertSuccess) { return 0; }
+
+    djui_hud_render_rect(x, y, width, height);
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
 int smlua_func_djui_hud_render_texture(lua_State* L) {
     if(!smlua_functions_valid_param_count(L, 5)) { return 0; }
 
@@ -3484,6 +3501,7 @@ void smlua_bind_functions_autogen(void) {
     smlua_bind_function(L, "djui_hud_get_screen_width", smlua_func_djui_hud_get_screen_width);
     smlua_bind_function(L, "djui_hud_measure_text", smlua_func_djui_hud_measure_text);
     smlua_bind_function(L, "djui_hud_print_text", smlua_func_djui_hud_print_text);
+    smlua_bind_function(L, "djui_hud_render_rect", smlua_func_djui_hud_render_rect);
     smlua_bind_function(L, "djui_hud_render_texture", smlua_func_djui_hud_render_texture);
     smlua_bind_function(L, "djui_hud_set_color", smlua_func_djui_hud_set_color);
     smlua_bind_function(L, "djui_hud_set_font", smlua_func_djui_hud_set_font);